Small Boat Tacking Maneuver ( 86 Sec Video )
  

 
The tacking maneuver is used when you change the direction of a boat by turning its bow, or front end of a boat, through the wind, and the sails will then fill on the opposite side.

In a double-handed, or two-person, boat the duties are divided between the skipper and the crew. To tack smoothly they need to be well coordinated. The skipper will alert the crew to get ready for tacking by saying, “Ready about!” and when the crew is prepared, he will respond by saying, “Ready.” Just before turning the boat, the skipper will say, "Hard-a-lee", “Tacking!” or “Coming about!”

Notice how the skipper faces forward throughout the turn and passes the tiller behind her back. This helps to keep her oriented during the turn, so she doesn’t turn the boat too much or too little.

It is the crew’s job to tend the jib and move his weight to the opposite side of the boat. The jib's sheet is released on one side as the jib luffs, and trimmed in on the other side of the boat after the jib crosses in front of the mast.